That night, after another successful award ceremony, he returned home. The house looked beautiful, but each room was filled with emptiness. He sat closer to the window, sipping a glass of beer. He let his thoughts wander to the past. Jenny haunted his mind.

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He remembered Jenny coming into his cabin one evening and asking, "Dennis, may I have a few minutes?

He didn't have time for Jenny. He was working on something significant.

He said, "Not now, later," ignoring her.

"Dennis, this was not the first time you neglected me." Jenny sobbed as she said.

He remembered the heated arguments that filled the room.

Jenny was his coworker as well as his girlfriend years ago. She had been his balance and one who understood his ambition and reminded him to breathe.

Dennis recalls how he hurt her badly. He had a greater craving for success than love. He thus betrayed his word, neglected to remember special occasions, and treated her rudely. Jenny finally walked away with tears, and Dennis never wanted to stop her.

Now, even after so many years, that moment still haunted his mind. He was too late when he realized how he had treated her so cruelly.

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Two weeks after the award ceremony, Dennis came across a flyer at the entrance to an art gallery. He was surprised to see Jenny's name in that flyer. "That means now she is an artist," he whispered to himself. His heart began to shiver, but without wasting time, he entered the art gallery.

When he entered the gallery, he saw Jenny chat with a guest next to a painting. Her face had taken on a more mature appearance with time, but her eyes remained unchanged. Her smile faded when she saw Dennis.

“Dennis?” she asked, surprised.

“Hi, Jenny,” he said softly. “I saw your name in the flyer. I came to see your work.

She said nothing, as she felt that he was trying to reopen her old wound.

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Later, both were sipping coffee in a cafe. The silence was very heavy. Finally, Jenney asked, "Why is that, after all these years?"

Dennis couldn't speak; he waited for a time. Then said, "Because I can't pretend anymore that my life is perfect. I hurt you a lot; I put my ambition above us, and I lost you. I am suffering from it every day."

Jenny very calmly but firmly said, "You not only hurt me, Dennis, but you pretend that I was not important to you. I was always in second place in your work. I suffered more than you."

Dennis looked down. “I know. And I don't expect your forgiveness quickly. Even as a friend, I want to make myself correct.

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Jenny kept silent. She had already built her life away from the pain of the past. She thought silently. Is it necessary to open her heart again for him? But she noticed his change. He was not as proud a man as he seemed earlier. For the first time, she noticed a kind man behind the polished manager. He seemed like a tired and hopeless man.

She said softly, "Dennis, forgiveness is not a gift, but you need to earn it."

"Sure, Jenny, I will earn it. Even if it takes the rest of my life," he promised quickly.

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Weeks turned into months. Dennis attended all her exhibitions to show his support. Not like previous days, he talked less and listened more. Jenny noticed his change, so her boundaries began to melt.

One evening when they walked along the park, Dennis started to talk from his heart.

"Jenny, I have achieved everything people admired. But there is no point if I do not have someone to share them with. You were my home, but I lost it. If you give me a second chance, I can try it.

Jenny stopped walking and looked at Dennis to see the sparks of the love they once shared. Yes, her old wound is not yet cured, but?

“Dennis,” she said slowly, “You broke me once, but I realized that you have learned now. Sometimes people deserve to get a second chance."

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The following morning, Dennis woke up to a call from Jenny. “Would you like to go for a coffee with me? She asked.

After many years, for the first time, Dennis felt happy. It was not the happiness of success or fame, but a happiness of feeling he was no longer alone. Their journey would not be easy, because they could not erase their past.

But they had gotten another chance to rebuild. This was not just a second chance for him at love, but it was a second chance at life.

Thank you for reading my story.